Apologies for the length and disjointed nature of my post, but there's many posts since I last read the thread:
I didn't "waste a decade" with early nights when my kids were little @user0224 I got babysitters when I could, or went out with friends while dad stayed in, or got takeaways, or did our family meals out at lunch time. It's not rocket science. It's being considerate of your child's needs and being a member of the wider society.
I'm regretting not telling parents to parent better on Saturday @MissScarletInTheBallroom
@Robinni🤦
If you can afford £150 per head, you can afford a babysitter for the night.
Why does their "one off" trump my long desired and waited for night out @BeeDavis ? How about my circumstances @anicecuppateaa @Brainded @Cruzey ? How do you know this wasn't a one off for me? My first night out in over a year? Or other diners in the restaurant?
@bloodyplumbing I'd been looking forward to my meal out for so long, there's no way 4 feckless parents were going to ruin it. I enjoyed the meal AND got frustrated with CF parents not parenting. Both happened together 😉
@SweetcornFritter Thank you for being considerate to those around you. I get you were hungry. I hope you managed to get a decent JustEat.
People can put their children to bed anytime they want. I don't care. Just don't bring them to a fine dining restaurant for their wind down before bed time. It's really simple.
I didn't think I'd have to check if my restaurant was child free either @Mt563 Seems I'm in the wrong there. I wish you luck as you run the gauntlet of your exclusive well earned treat🤞
I disagree a highchair means a restaurant wants to welcome children at 7.45. All Bar One cited above has highchairs at lunch, but it seems they have a policy to ban children later in the evening.
Of course, if they are screaming or crying we would take them outside until calm
There's the difference @pepperminticecream You crack on with doing you and yours, until it impacts on me and mine. These parents let the crying continue. Then it's not ok. And I will judge and talk to my partner about their feckless choices. Please read posts before commenting.
Those of you who have restaurants that specify child timings are in the minority imo. I've had a look and there's none near me. "Adults only restaurants" in Google gets me a very salubrious, erm, club, over an hour's drive away.
There may have been other children in the restaurant. I don't know, as I wasn't looking. The point is that if there were, their parents made sure the other diners weren't disturbed by them. Lots of you seem to be missing that point. Or the point that if you're a parent, your child's needs must come first. Leaving them slumped uncomfortably sleeping in a highchair, or having them communicating to you by screeching next to you, trying to show you they don't want to be there, so that YOU can have your fine dining experience is selfish to the core.
@Engaea That sweary mum significantly embarrassed herself. It made us giggle. I'm sad I missed @ttcat37 's posts. They also look quite embarrassing for them.
I am in full agreement @grumpynan .
We had an empty restaurant to ourselves three years ago @chaosmaker. Hell on earth. 6 members of staff for us 2 diners. The sommelier wanted to speak to us all night. Butted in on our conversations constantly. That was an awful experience. Be careful what you wish for!
I haven't forgotten what it's like to have young children @earther @JennyBeanR If one of my children decided to cry and scream when eating in a restaurant, whether McDonalds or high end, I know I chose to respect other diners when eating and to put my child's needs above mine. I wouldn't leave them crying for over an hour or slumped over the side of a highchair. I'd have least put that child on my lap to give them more comfort in their sleep and eaten one handed. It's what any parent should do. I loved dining out with my children when they were little... At the right time and the right place. Not disturbing others. That's the difference.
@loulo6098. That's completely the issue. A child who is fussing/tired to that extent is a child who needs to not be in a fine dining restaurant.
Becoming a parent means life changes. If you don't accept that, then I'm absolutely going to judge your parenting.
Those saying that "it's not like that on the continent"...I don't care. I'm not on the continent (with their longer evenings, their longer siestas and their warmer nights)
Point taken by those who are rightly saying the meal cost or location shouldn't make a difference. My children got the same treatment wherever we were when they were little. I stupidly expect other parents to care for their children and respect other diners like I used to when my children became squawky in a restaurant. Seems that's now more fool me. So many more selfish parents these days.
I've now rung this restaurant to enquire as to their policy. The staff member said it's not really a child place in the evening, but sometimes they have them. I told the staff member they need to decide if they do have them or not before I would make a booking. So they don't have a policy. I'd suggest they're relying on parental common sense. Which is dangerous, as one person's normal is another person's crazy.
I love wetherspoons for their national dog policy. All dogs are banned as the less well behaved ones ruin it for others. It seems like we're now getting to a point where businesses have to blanket decide if children are allowed in an establishment or not as the parents lacking common sense are ruining things for their other diners.